(A) Approaching, overtaking, and passing a school bus.
(1) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any school bus which has stepped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus when there is in operation on the school bus a visual signal as specified in this chapter, and the driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, or the driver of the vehicle is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed, or the visual signals are no longer actuated.
(2) Every school bus when used for the transportation of school children must comply with the color requirements established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois, and shall bear upon the front and rear thereof plainly visible signs containing the words “school bus” in letters not less than eight inches in height, and in addition shall be equipped with visual signals, meeting the requirements of this chapter, which shall be actuated by the driver of the school bus whenever the brakes are applied. Immediately preceding the point at which the school bus stops for the purpose of loading or discharging passengers, such visual signals shall be actuated by the driver continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the school bus within a business or residence district, except that outside a business or residence district such visual signals shall be given continuously during not less than the last 200 feet traveled by the school bus. Such visual signals must remain actuated when children are loading or unloading from a school bus which is stopped on a roadway. At no other time shall these visual signals be actuated.
(3) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway, of which the roadways for traffic moving in opposite directions are separated by a strip of ground which is riot surfaced or suitable for vehicular traffic, need not stop his vehicle upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on the opposite roadway; and need not stop his vehicle when driving upon a controlled access highway when a school bus is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to the surfaced or improved part of the controlled access highway where pedestrians are not permitted to cross such controlled access highway.
(4) When a school bus is being operated upon a highway for the purposes other than the actual transportation of children either to or from school or in connection with any school activity, all signs thereon indicating “school bus” shall be covered or concealed.
(B) Travel on four-lane highway. A school bus traveling on a highway having four or more lanes for vehicular traffic shall stop for the loading or discharging of passengers only on the right side of the highway, and when so stopped shall load or discharge only those passengers whose residences are located to the right of the highway. The routes of school buses shall be 30 arranged that no child shall be required to cross such four or more lane highway to board a school bus or to reach his residence after leaving the bus. This section shall not apply when children are escorted by competent persons designated by the school authorities or by law enforcement officers.
(Ord. 306, passed 12-7-1970)